DOJ opposes House Gitmo measure; Senate approval hazy

From NBC’s Pete Williams and Ken Strickland The Obama administration has come out strongly against a provision in a House bill that would block any further detainees from Guantanamo Bay from standing trial in the United States.

"We strongly oppose this provision,” said DOJ spokesman Matt Miller. “Congress should not limit the tools available to the executive branch in bringing terrorists to justice and advancing our national security interests.”

Current law allows the Justice Department to bring detainees to the U.S. for trial as long as DOJ gives Congress 45 days notice before the transfer.

The spending bill will be addressed on the House floor tonight and is expected to pass, but it would face another major hurdle before final approval. While Senate Democrats support passage of a catchall spending bill, Senate Republicans oppose that plan, preferring to pass a short-term “continuing resolution” that would punt the issue of funding the government until next year.